The NITI Aayog meeting on Saturday, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, sparked a major controversy when West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee claimed that her microphone was turned off while she was speaking. Here’s what happened and the responses from various officials.
Mamata Banerjee’s Allegations:
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee alleged that she was allowed to speak for only a few minutes before her microphone was turned off. She walked out of the meeting in New Delhi, expressing her frustration and claiming discrimination. Banerjee stated, “I was speaking, my mic was stopped. This is not only the insult of Bengal but also of all regional parties.”
BJP’s Response:
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, including Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, rejected Banerjee’s claims. They stated that all participants were given equal time to speak, and that Mamata’s reaction was “premeditated.” According to the BJP, each chief minister was allotted seven minutes to speak for their respective states.
NITI Aayog’s Explanation:
#WATCH | After the NITI Aayog meeting, CEO B.V.R. Subrahmanyam says, “…We had 10 absentees and 26 participants. We had absentees from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana, Bihar, Delhi, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand and Puducherry. The chief minister of West Bengal… pic.twitter.com/dedCuQOHca
— ANI (@ANI) July 27, 2024
During a press conference after the meeting, NITI Aayog CEO BVR Subrahmanyam clarified the situation. He explained that every chief minister had a seven-minute speaking slot, with the time displayed on a screen. He stated, “After her allotted time was up, Mamata said, ‘I would like to speak for a few more minutes but I would not.'”
Subrahmanyam also mentioned that Mamata had requested to speak before lunchtime due to her travel schedule, and her slot was adjusted accordingly. “The chief minister of West Bengal had made a request to be given a turn before lunchtime. We adjusted and the Defence Minister called her in just before Gujarat,” he said.
Absentees and Boycotts:
The meeting had 26 participants and 10 absentees. Chief ministers from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana, Bihar, Delhi, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Puducherry did not attend. Subrahmanyam noted that not all absentees were due to boycott reasons, citing last-minute dropouts.
Participants’ Observations:
Chief ministers who participated in the meeting told News18 that once Mamata’s seven-minute time was over, a bell rang, and she quickly left. They noted that other chief ministers who exceeded their time were given extensions by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
Conclusion:
The controversy surrounding Mamata Banerjee’s mic at the NITI Aayog meeting has led to differing accounts from various officials. While Banerjee claims discrimination, NITI Aayog and BJP leaders assert that she was given her allotted time and that her early departure was unplanned.
Key Takeaway:
The conflicting narratives highlight the ongoing tensions between state and central governments in India, emphasizing the importance of clear communication and procedural fairness in high-stakes political meetings.